A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF MICROBIAL GROWTH ASSOCIATED WITH EARPHONES USED AMONG UNIVERSITY STUDENTS OF MICHAEL OKPARA UNIVERSITY OF AGRICULTURE UMUDIKE, ABIA STATE

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ABSTRACT


Microbial growth associated with earphones used among students of Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, Abia State were investigated. A total of 50 earphones were randomly selected for microbial analyses from 25 frequent student users (Group A) and 25 other non-frequent student users (Group B). The samples were analysed using standard microbiological standard method.The bacteria isolated from the earphones were α-haemolytic Streptococci, Bacillus spp., coagulase-negative Staphylococci, Escherichia coliProteus spp, and Staphylococcus aureus. The fungi isolated were Aspergillus spp,Mucor spp and Rhizopus spp). The distribution of the isolates include; α-haemolytic Streptococci, 12 (24%), Aspergillus spp 6 (12%), Bacillus spp 10 (20%), Coagulase-negative Staphylococci (COANS) 6 (12%), Escherichia coli 3 (6%), Mucor spp 2 (4%), Proteus spp 2 (4%), Rhizopus spp 5 (10%) and Staphylococcus aureus 12 (24%). Statistical analysis showed a significant difference (P<0.05) between the mean incidence values of the isolates from the two groups. Comparing the incidence values of the isolates from the two groups of earphone users, the study concluded that microbial growth does increase with frequent and continuous use of earphones in relation to the non-frequent use of earphones. The significantly higher microbial growth in Group A (as indicated by the higher incidence values of the isolates in group A, when compared to those of Group B), is indicative of a positive relationship between microbial growth, frequency and duration of use of earphones. Thus, regular cleaning of ear phones with disinfectants before and after each usage is recommended to help reduced the microbial load of earphones and its potential as regards being a vector in the transfer of pathogenic microorganisms to the ear, to help prevent the incidence of otitis media and other infections amongst the ear phone users.






TABLE OF CONTENTS

Title page                                                                                                                             i

Certification                                                                                                                                                                         ii

Dedication                                                                                                                                                                            iii

Acknowledgement                                                                                                                                                                iv

Table of Contents                                                                                                                                                                           v

List of Tables                                                                                                                      viii                                                                                                                                                                                   

List of Figures                                                                                                                       ix                                                                                                                                                                              

Abstract                                                                                                                                  x                                                                                                                                                                          

CHAPTER ONE

1.0     Introduction                                                                                                                 1

1.1    Aims and objectives of the study                                                                                 3

CHAPTER TWO

LITERATURE REVIEW

2.1          Definition of earphone                                                                                           4

2.2          History of earphone                                                                                                4

2.3          Anatomy and physiology of the ear                                                                       5

2.3.1       The outer ear                                                                                                          5

2.3.2        Middle ear                                                                                                             6

2.3.3        Inner ear                                                                                                                7

2.4           Microbiome of the ear                                                                                       7

2.5           Bacteria in cerumen                                                                                           8

2.6          Commensal microbial                                                                                         9

2.7          Infections of the ear                                                                                           10

2.7.1       Outer ear infection                                                                                             10

2.7.2       Acute diffuse Otitis Externa                                                                               11

2.7.3       Chronic Otitis Externa                                                                                       12

2.7.4        Furunculosis                                                                                                      13

2.7.5        Otomycosis                                                                                                       13

2.7.6        Malignant Otitis Externa (MOE)                                                                      14

2.8           Middle Ear Infection                                                                                         15

2.9           Inner Ear Infection                                                                                            16

CHAPTER THREE

 MATERIALS AND METHODS

 3.1       Study area                                                                                                            17                                3.2        Sample collection                                                                                                17

3.3        Sterilization of materials                                                                                     17

 3.4         Media preparation                                                                                             18

 3.5         Microbiological analyses                                                                                  18

 3.6         Characterization and identification of the bacterial isolates                             18

3.6.1        Colonial morphology                                                                                       18

 3.6.2       Motility test                                                                                                      19

 3.6.3       Gram staining                                                                                                   19

 3.6.4       Biochemical tests                                                                                              20

 3.6.4.1    Catalase test                                                                                                      20

 3.6.4.2    Coagulase test                                                                                                   21

 3.6.4.3     Indole test                                                                                                         21

 3.6.4.4     Methyl red test                                                                                                 21

 3.6.4.5     Voges Proskauer test                                                                                        22

 3.6.4.6      Citrate utilization test                                                                                      22

 3.6.4.7      Oxidase test                                                                                                     23

 3.6.4.8      Triple Sugar Iron agar test                                                                              23                                                              

 3.7            Identification and characterization of the fungal isolates                               24

 3.8            Statistical analysis                                                                                           24

CHAPTER FOUR

 4.0           Results                                                                                                             25

 CHAPTER FIVE

DISCUSSION, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS

 5.0         Discussion                                                                                                         33

 5.1         Conclusion and Recommendations                                                                   38

REFERENCES                                                                                                               40

APPENDIX                                                                                                                     50

 

 



 

 

 

LIST OF TABLES

Table            Title                                                                          Page

1          The cultural, morphological and biochemical characteristics of the bacterial isolates from the earphone samples                       28       

2          The cultural and morphological characteristics of the fungal isolates from the earphone samples. 29                                                            

3          Occurrence of the isolates in the earphone samples categories                                      30

 

 


 

 

 

 

LIST OF FIGURES


Figure    Title                                                                      Page

1             The cleaning practice observed amongst the ear phone users                 27

2              The percentage occurrence of the isolates from the earphones              31

3              The percentage occurrence rate of the isolates in the earphone

                  Categories                                                                                             32

 

 

 


 

 

CHAPTER ONE


1.0     INTRODUCTION

Several studies of the human environment have demonstrated colonization and contamination of objects such as earphones, door handles, faucets, phones, money, fabrics and plastics (Bures et al., 2001). People come into daily contact with all sorts of fomites, with an increasing rate of bacterial and fungal infection (Eguia and Chambers, 2003).

The external auditory canal normally harbors many bacterial colonies which form the normal commensal bacterial flora of the ear. They are predominantly non-pathogenic and mostly aerobic, which include Staphylococci (like Staphylococcus auricularis, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Staphylococcus capitis and occasionally Staphylococcus aureus), Coryneforms like Turicella otitidis (Stroman et al., 2001), alpha hemolytic streptococcus (Brook, 1981), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (Brook, 1981; Clark et al., 1997) and some species of Micrococcus (Brook et al., 2003).

The use of earphones has been thought to create aural hygiene problems and infection in the ear canal. Not uncommonly, the earphone users also express concern regarding the potential for this device to cause noise induced hearing loss. However, documented studies on the side effects of prolonged use of earphones are rarely described in the literature. Among the prolonged users of the earphones are telephonists, radio deejays and mobile compact personal stereo (Mazlan et al., 2001).

Ear phones are also a source of bacterial diseases, as bacteria can form  biofilm in ears. Like airline headsets, headphones and stethoscope earpieces, ear phones can easily be a source of vector of potential pathogens, which can give rise to otitis externa (Mukhopadhyay et al., 2008).

Mobile devices used in hospitals are of particular interest, as they have been implicated in the spread of nosocomial infections (Nikolic et al., 2011).

Two types of ear infections include otitis media and otitis externa from which the otitis media is most common. Otitis media is a group of inflammatory diseases of the middle ear (Qureishi et al., 2014). The two main types are acute otitis media (AOM) and otitis media with effusion (OME). Acute otitis media is an infection of abrupt onset that usually presents with ear pain. In young children this may result in pulling at the ear, increased crying, and poor sleep. Decreased eating and a fever may also be present. Otitis media with effusion is typically not associated with symptoms (Lieberthal et al., 2013).  Occasionally a feeling of fullness is described. It is defined as the presence of non-infectious fluid in the middle ear for more than three months.

Otitis externa is actually a collection of disorders of the external auditory meatus. Otitis externa can be divided into four types - namely acute diffuse, acute localized, chronic and invasive otitis externa. It is principally caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus. Heat, retained moisture, desquamation and maceration of the epithelium add to the disease condition (Rubin et al., 2005).

 About 1 in 8 of otitis external infections is fungal in origin (Satish et al., 2013). 90% of fungal infections involve Aspergillus spp. and the rest Candida spp. The prevalence rate has been quoted as 10% of patients presenting with signs and symptoms of otitis externa (Satish et al., 2013). The fraction of otitis externa that is otomycosis may be higher in hot climates and much of the literature originates from tropical and subtropical countries (Satish et al., 2013). 

Recently the worldwide usage of earphones has increased due to the gaining popularity of mobile phones, portable music and MP3 players. Apple has sold more than 40 million ipods since they hit the marketing 2001 (USA TODAY, 2006). Majority of school or college students have a right rate of sharing among them and the practice of cleaning the earphones properly before use is not at all in vogue. People have raised concerns over the fact that it causes hearing damage, but extensive Medline search  showed that no study so far has been done with earphones as a bacterial growth inducer and a possible vector of commensals (Mukhopadhyay et al., 2008).


1.1          AIMS AND OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY

·           To compare the microbial growth associated with the use of earphones used among students of  Michael Okpara University of Agriculture Umudike, Abia state.

·           To evaluate the potential role of earphones as vectors of pathogenic microorganisms among students of Michael Okpara University of Agriculture Umudike, Abia state.


 

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